Magnum K.I. just released their new video for the song "No Way" on youtube.
Check out some of the photos I took at their self titles CD release party here.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Hockey Night In Mexico
Only Canadians Would Travel To Mexico And Watch A Hockey Game!
Is what a Mexican gentleman said to us after arriving in Playa del Carmen the morning of the Canada vs U.S.A. gold medal Olympic game. Our first morning in Mexico on our trip for Rae's sister's wedding started with one goal in mind. We were going to watch the hockey game that would ice Canada's 2010 Vancouver Olympic cake.
I woke up early to take pictures on the beach, donning my red, 2010 Olympic hockey jersey.
As soon as I left our room and started to walk around the resort I heard a voice behind me ask "You think we'll win?" to which I replied "I sure hope so."
The rest of that morning I became the resort's Canadian Hockey Liaison. I was asked everything from "when is the game?" "Where are you watching the game?" and "We've been here for a week, did we win?", I even heard a few "U.S.A., U.S.A." chants. Sadly, the fact was I had no idea where we were going to watch the game. The only place on the resort grounds that was going to have the game was the exclusive Grand Hotel of which I couldn't go to without buying a $100 day pass.
We eventually met a couple who said they were going into Playa del Carmen to watch it and were going to catch the 2 o'clock bus into town. The problem with that was that the game started at 2 and we only heard of one or two places (the Tequila Barrel and maybe Señior Frogs) showing it. I then told Rae that the next couple who asks us where we were watching the game, we will offer to split a cab into Playa with them. It must have taken all of five minutes for this to happen, so we made plans with our new friends to meet in the lobby and leave the resort by 11.
As you can see in the pictures above, my new hockey buddy and I subconsciously decided to where the exact same coloured shorts and cap.
When we arrived (around 2 hours early for the game) every bar and lounge that was showing the game was packed with a sea of red and white shirts and jersey's. Thus began our search for a bar with seats. We passed patio after patio bumping into more Canadians aimlessly looking for the same game until we became a mob roaming fifth avenue. We eventually stopped at one empty lounge that had a tv because the bar staff were frantically flipping through the channels to find the "money game" that would keep the hopeless Canadian hockey fiends around to drink their coolers dry. This distraction proved to be a good thing as our numbers thinned out to the original four and another couple from Vancouver Island.
Finally after following the advice of a man, who only asked that we mention that he had sent us, we found a place called The Pinche Gringo which was owned by an ex-pat from Calgary.
Through the duration of the game I think that we drank their beer supply out twice as we could never get the same brand of beer twice after the first period, drank warm corona's during the second period and were left to tequila, which was free pored down our throat at the end of the game.
After the game we drunkenly poured ourselves into the street and were promptly invited for drinks at the apartment of another new friend, originally from Montréal, that we met at Pinche Gringos. His apartment was amazing and we partied into the night on his rooftop patio, where most of these photos were taken.
He was a gracious and generous host.
Thanks again A.
Is what a Mexican gentleman said to us after arriving in Playa del Carmen the morning of the Canada vs U.S.A. gold medal Olympic game. Our first morning in Mexico on our trip for Rae's sister's wedding started with one goal in mind. We were going to watch the hockey game that would ice Canada's 2010 Vancouver Olympic cake.
I woke up early to take pictures on the beach, donning my red, 2010 Olympic hockey jersey.
As soon as I left our room and started to walk around the resort I heard a voice behind me ask "You think we'll win?" to which I replied "I sure hope so."
The rest of that morning I became the resort's Canadian Hockey Liaison. I was asked everything from "when is the game?" "Where are you watching the game?" and "We've been here for a week, did we win?", I even heard a few "U.S.A., U.S.A." chants. Sadly, the fact was I had no idea where we were going to watch the game. The only place on the resort grounds that was going to have the game was the exclusive Grand Hotel of which I couldn't go to without buying a $100 day pass.
We eventually met a couple who said they were going into Playa del Carmen to watch it and were going to catch the 2 o'clock bus into town. The problem with that was that the game started at 2 and we only heard of one or two places (the Tequila Barrel and maybe Señior Frogs) showing it. I then told Rae that the next couple who asks us where we were watching the game, we will offer to split a cab into Playa with them. It must have taken all of five minutes for this to happen, so we made plans with our new friends to meet in the lobby and leave the resort by 11.
As you can see in the pictures above, my new hockey buddy and I subconsciously decided to where the exact same coloured shorts and cap.
When we arrived (around 2 hours early for the game) every bar and lounge that was showing the game was packed with a sea of red and white shirts and jersey's. Thus began our search for a bar with seats. We passed patio after patio bumping into more Canadians aimlessly looking for the same game until we became a mob roaming fifth avenue. We eventually stopped at one empty lounge that had a tv because the bar staff were frantically flipping through the channels to find the "money game" that would keep the hopeless Canadian hockey fiends around to drink their coolers dry. This distraction proved to be a good thing as our numbers thinned out to the original four and another couple from Vancouver Island.
Finally after following the advice of a man, who only asked that we mention that he had sent us, we found a place called The Pinche Gringo which was owned by an ex-pat from Calgary.
Through the duration of the game I think that we drank their beer supply out twice as we could never get the same brand of beer twice after the first period, drank warm corona's during the second period and were left to tequila, which was free pored down our throat at the end of the game.
After the game we drunkenly poured ourselves into the street and were promptly invited for drinks at the apartment of another new friend, originally from Montréal, that we met at Pinche Gringos. His apartment was amazing and we partied into the night on his rooftop patio, where most of these photos were taken.
He was a gracious and generous host.
Thanks again A.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Set The Wayback Machine Sherman
In the spirit of the new movie, Hot Tub Time Machine, here is a website that a coworker directed me to. This site is a must check out for anyone that has used the "World Wide Web" since the beginning of it's widespread use in 1996. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine lets you look at your favorite websites, how they looked as far back as 1996. Some of the images have since lost their links but still have their news articles, like Apple making $25 million dollars in profit in '96. I think that Ipod apps made that last week. One of my favorite vintage sites that I found was Manitoba Hydro's 1996 site complete with animated gifs.
Now here's the trailer for Hot Tub Time Machine.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Important Post
More important than finishing the second season of Flight of The Conchords?
Yep.
I know I already posted today but after going through my list of favorite blogs, my posts seem a little immature and pointless. So if there is anyone who actually looks at this blog, here is a post that I stole from Rob Peters blog.
Follow this link to The Story of Stuff website, a website that illustrates the importance of being conservative in our collection of needless rubbish and creation of waste. One issue covered is societies perceived need for bottled water.
I hope Rob (of Circle Design Incorporated) doesn't mind me ganking his post for my own blog, but I believe he will agree that getting this message out, is what is important.
Yep.
I know I already posted today but after going through my list of favorite blogs, my posts seem a little immature and pointless. So if there is anyone who actually looks at this blog, here is a post that I stole from Rob Peters blog.
Follow this link to The Story of Stuff website, a website that illustrates the importance of being conservative in our collection of needless rubbish and creation of waste. One issue covered is societies perceived need for bottled water.
I hope Rob (of Circle Design Incorporated) doesn't mind me ganking his post for my own blog, but I believe he will agree that getting this message out, is what is important.
Flight of The Conchords Season Two
Just finished watching the second season of Flight of The Conchors last night. Here is one of my favorite songs from this season.
And here is on from season one, from my favorite episode of all time.
Enjoy!
And here is on from season one, from my favorite episode of all time.
Enjoy!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Swellzombie
I should have blogged about Swellzombie some time ago as I have been following his flickr account for some time now.
He has a great sense of humor and a fantastic illustration style. His flickr page is one of the most active in my list of contacts due to his passion for sketching.
What turned me on to his photostream initially was one of his comics inspired by a song, like the one pictured below. The first one, which I enjoyed enough to comment on, was his comic for an obscure Weird Al Yankovic song that I loved when I was younger, "Good Ol' Days".
I highly recommend that you check out Swellzombies flickr and enjoy the weekly comics.
He has a great sense of humor and a fantastic illustration style. His flickr page is one of the most active in my list of contacts due to his passion for sketching.
What turned me on to his photostream initially was one of his comics inspired by a song, like the one pictured below. The first one, which I enjoyed enough to comment on, was his comic for an obscure Weird Al Yankovic song that I loved when I was younger, "Good Ol' Days".
I highly recommend that you check out Swellzombies flickr and enjoy the weekly comics.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
E6 At The Albert
Last night Rae and I took in the Electric Six show at the Royal Albert Arms. I had never heard of them until starting work at Polar Bear close to 4 and a half years ago. If you haven't heard of them, they are one of those rare bands that don't have a bad song in their catalog. They are currently doing a Canadian tour that ends in Vancouver on the 24th. E6 is a definite must see if you dig their style of music because they put on a great show. Check out their myspace to hear a few of their songs as well as see some of their videos.
The video below is the song they opened with last night.
This one is, as they said last night, "Their best song." It's a total party anthem.
And they do one mean Queen cover.
enjoy!
The video below is the song they opened with last night.
This one is, as they said last night, "Their best song." It's a total party anthem.
And they do one mean Queen cover.
enjoy!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Momentos from Chichen Itza
These are my favorite souvenirs from the amazing Chichen Itza in the Mayan Riviera. The statue might look huge in this picture but the chess board is actually quite small. I initially bought the statue for something to carry with me while taking pictures so that when people tried selling me things, I could avoid a prolonged interruption by saying "I already bought something." It didn't work but could you believe that it only cost a buck. Haggling is quite easy when you are genuinely not interested in buying something. What starts at $10, quickly becomes 2 for $5 and then $1.
Rae liked the look of the chess boards made from quartz and onyx and all kinds of stones, so I promised to teach her how to play if she bought one. I also bought a great Guyabera shirt, in orange of course, that has quickly become a favorite.
All in all Mexico was a much more successful bartering experience than Cuba. The key is knowing that if someone doesn't want to play the game at first, you can often find the same thing that you are haggling for in the same market. They are quite aware of this, so if you walk away, they usually make you an offer pretty quick.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Easter Treats and Mexican Weddings
This past weekend I took some more pictures of some of the Crusty Bun's Easter treats. Once again, I was fortunate enough to get some advanced sampling during the shoot. My personal favorite were the delicious Nougat Cookies in the shape of a bunny's face, pictured below.
As mentioned in a previous post, Rae and I just returned from her sister's Mexican wedding. She didn't marry a Mexican, the wedding was just held in Mexico. I have been working the photos and found that this semi-sepia effect gives it a real nice feel but please comment and let me know what you think. Congrats again to Marni and Nathan.
There are many more Mexico and wedding photos to come. I still working through the Gigabytes of images I took, so it make take a little more time. I will keep everyone posted.
Hasta luego!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Give Maya Pyramid Back Or I'll Punch You In The Temple
Rae Rae and I just returned from the Mayan Riviera in Mexico last weekend and WOW! What a great trip. we went there to help celebrate Rae's sister's wedding, so a big congrats goes out to N8-Dogg and the Marnster.
I will likely not be posting for a while as I need to weed through the 2000, or so, pictures I took of the trip. I could probably string the pictures into an animation and it would be like experiencing it all over again.
Don't know if my liver could take that though.
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